In Colorado And Across Country, Ebert's Loss Felt Strongly

BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - Famed movie critic Roger Ebert's death this week was felt strongly in the city of Chicago, his home, but also in Colorado.

The 70-year-old had been beset with a series of illnesses in recent years, including cancer of the salivary glands. He died Thursday, two days after revealing his cancer had returned.

Ebert came to Colorado annually to participate in the University of Colorado's Conference on World Affairs in Boulder, and he most recently was there in 2010.

Jim Palmer, director of the conference, said in a prepared statement: "We here in Boulder are saddened by this news. Roger gave so much to so many in his 40 years at the conference. He always said he grew up at the CWA, which he referred to as the 'Conference on Everything Conceivable."

Ebert was also someone CBS4 Critic at Large Greg Moody respected.

"For about 10 years I lived just up the road from Roger Ebert. I met him, interviewed him and Gene Siskel, read his stuff on a regular basis. I agreed with him sometimes and not other times. But I came to respect him, which is very unusual in a business where every critic thinks every other critic is an idiot," Moody said.

Moody also said Ebert said something once about movies that has always stuck with him.

"Ebert once compared movies on TV to movies in a theater. When a movie is on TV, he told me, we can embrace the movie. When a movie is in the theater -- on a big screen -- the movie embraces us. We are forced to become a part. I think of that each and every time I walk into a theater," Moody said.

MORE FROM CBSCHICAGO.COM: Famed Chicago Film Critic Roger Ebert Dies

- Greg Moody is CBS4's Critic At Large. His reports on CBS4 News are featured on the CBSDenver.com Entertainment section.

- Also, don't miss Moody's entertaining bio, his Top Spots in Denver lists, and his frequently updated Moody's Picks page.